Wall construction



Alig- 1938. J. J. OLSEN WALL CQNSTRUCTION Filed June 11, 1957 2 v 3 MW w. e 2 8 g L. a L 5 5 2 5 9 9 4 2 3 9 2 4 0 7 2 2V 3 E 2 4 (3 a a n b 3 I? l o 2 p 1 9 9 u wm v 2 Ma H H w n P INVENTOR.

Patented Aug. 30, 1938 UNl'iE s 'r orrie 11 Claims.

The present invention relates to wall construction, and more particularly to improvements in a wall construction in which two parallel walls composed of blocks laid in corresponding courses are bound together by reinforcing tie means imbedded in spaced columns of concrete poured between the walls formed by the blocks.

An object of the invention is to provide a wall construction which is practical, economical to construct and which possesses advantages not provided in prior art structures of this character.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel form of reinforcing tie means which can be assembled as the spaced wall forming blocks are laid one course upon the other.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel arrangement of tie means embodying relatively long elements which can be assembled in a simple and convenient manner without threading the interlocking parts over the longer elements.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and novel form of concrete retaining means between walls formed by the parallel courses of blocks which will permit the pouring of concrete in spaced columns between the retaining walls.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be in part pointed out and in part evident to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains.

' ments thereof.

In the drawing;

Figure l is a fragmentary sectional View of a wall constructed in accordance with the invention with the reinforcing tie means assembled in its operative position,

Figure 2 is an enlarged exploded fragmentary view in perspective, showing the details and the manner of assembling the reinforcing elements illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawing,

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing a modified form of the present invention,

Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view showing the manner in which the reinforcing elements of the wall shown in Figure 3 are assembled,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a detail of the reinforcing means contemplated by this invention, and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional View taken along line VI-VI of Figure 1, looking in direction of arrows, showing the concrete column forming and retaining means contemplated by the invention.

As illustrated in Figure l of the drawing, one embodiment of the wall construction contemplated by this invention comprises a pair of spaced walls iii and H composed of similar slabs or blocks I? laid in parallel courses with the vertical joints of one course disposed at an intermediate point with respect to the'vertical joints of the corresponding course in the other wall, the blocks or slabs l2 preferably having tongues l3 along their upper edge, and grooves it along the lower edge, so that when the blocks are assembled, the tongues I3 and the grooves M on the adjacent blocks will interlock. Extending between the walls It and H, the invention contemplates a novel arrangement of interlocking elements which serve to hold the parallel courses of blocks ii in spaced relation and reinforce the wall in its vertical plane when completed. In one form this reinforcing means, as is more clearly illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawing, comprises a transversely disposed tie member l5 having an upset end It that is adapted to cooperate with a tongue 53 and groove M of two blocks l2 in one of the walls, and a second tie member ll having a similarly upset end l8 which cooperates with a tongue is and groove M on blocks 82 of the opposite wall. This second tie member IT has a downwardly depending diagonal portion l9 that is adapted to engage with another tie member l5 associated with the next lower course of blocks it in one of the walls It or ll. Associated with the members and H, the reinforcing means also contemplates the use of vertically extending fiat bars 2t and 2| which pass through L-shaped slots 22 and 23 formed in the tie member l5 and a similar slot 2G in the tie member ll. At the lower end of the downwardly depending diagonal portion IQ of the tie member ll there is a tongue that is adapted to project through the slots 22 and 24 in the tie members it and H, and adjacent the tongue 25 there are two horizontally disposed bearing forming feet 26 which rest upon the upper surface of the tie member it when the parts are assembled, as illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawing. With this arrangement it will be seen that the tie forming members l5 and I7 will be secured together against endwise displacement by the vertically extending rod 20, and that with the downwardly depending diagonal portions l9 arranged at oppositely disposed angles, as shown, the two walls ll] and II will be reinforced in their vertical plane. The disposition of the diagonal portions E9 of the tie members H at oppositely disposed angles between the successive courses of blocks I2 in the wall construction is made possible by merely reversing the positions of the tie members 15 and II as each course of blocks is added to the wall construction.

In Figure 3 of the drawing, instead of resorting to tie members l5 and H, the object of the invention is obtained by substituting for these members a preformed channel-like strut or beam 2': having right angled flanges 28 at the edges thereof. The beam or strut member 2'4, as here shown, is lightened in weight by cutting out triangular sections thereof, which leave diagonal struts 29 between the flanged edges thereof. When the beam or strut member 27 is used, it will preferably have a length substantially equal to the height of the wall, but it is to be understood that a number of these elements 21 may be placed end to end, or in end overlapping relation in a vertical line as the courses of blocks l2 forming the walls l9 and H are built up. As a means for tying the blocks l2 to this latter form of reinforcing means, the invention contemplates a transversely extending tie forming member having upset ends 3i and 32 which respectively interlock with the tongues and grooves upon the blocks E2 of the walls and H.

As shown in Figure 4 of the drawing, the tie forming member 30 is provided with oppositely disposed L-shaped slots 33 and 34 which are adapted to engage the outer edges of the beam 21 and the right angled flanges 28. The slots 33 and E l, like the slots 22, 23 and 2d of the earlier described embodiment, are of L-shape, and the portions of the tie member 30 included in this L configuration, designated by the numeral 35, are adapted to be bent or deformed so as to permit a sidewise engagement between the tie member '5 and the vertical portions and fianges of the struts 27.

In Figure 5 of the drawing, there is shown a portion of the tie member 3% with the portion 35 of this L-shaped slot 3 3 deformed to permit the insertion of the beam 2'! with its flange 28 therein. In connection with this figure of the drawing, it may be pointed out that this illustration also shows the manner in which the slots 22 and 23 of the tie member l5 and the slot 24 of tie member ll may be deformed to facilitate assembly of the parts.

Before passing on to a description of the remaining features of this invention, attention is again directed to Figures 1 and 3 of the drawing, and particularly to the showing of inverted metal channel-like members 36 in conjunction with the tongues l3 and the grooves M upon the blocks or slabs l2. These inverted metal channel-like members 36 are preferably of considerable length, and when laid over a course of blocks i2 serve as an additional reinforcing means in that they function to prevent an endwise separation between the ends of the successive blocks H2 in any one course. It is to be understood, l1owever, that the use of these inverted metal channel-like members 36 is not essential to a ftdl utilization of the invention as hereinbefore described. As an additional feature of the invention, to facilitate an assembly of the blocks I? in the parallel courses of the walls It and l l with the reinforcing means illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawing, the blocks l2 may each be provided with imbedded and projecting deformable metal tabs 3'6 intermediate their top and bottom edges. When these tabs 3'1 are provided upon blocks 12, they form a means for positioning and securing the blocks in proper spaced relation, while the transversely extending tie forming members 3!) are being assembled in interlocking relation with the vertical beam or strut 2?. While reference is here made to this feature, it is to be understood that it does not constitute a necessary part of the invention, as the wall forming blocks l2 can also be properly assembled without resort to this additional securing means.

As illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawing, the invention, in addition to the reinforcing and tying means between the walls H3 and H formed by the blocks l2, also contemplates an incasement of the tie means at spaced points along the wall, and to facilitate a pouring of the concrete about these reinforcing and tying elements without entirely filling the space between the walls iii and H, the blocks 52 are each provided at spaced points along their inside top edge with notches 38 into which transversely extending supporting rods 39 may be disposed at each side of the reinforcing and tie forming members when assembled as above described. As shown in this figure of the drawing, the transversely extending supporting rods 39 support a metallic curtain or transverse partition forming member 40 which has a turned over edge t! along its top edge that is adapted to hook over one of the supporting rods The metallic transverse partition forming members at have a vertical dimension slightly greater than the height of the blocks or slabs l2, and when assembled, their lower ends are adapted to project downwardly inside of the next lower transverse partition forming member Ml. When these partition forming members 4!] are arranged in this manner they form two opposed transverse walls between the blocks I2 of the walls It and H between which concrete may be poured to incase the reinforcing and tie forming elements assembled into the wall construction as previously pointed out. When the transverse partition forming members 40 are constructed of metal and are suspended in the manner illustrated and described, it will be readily seen that, if desired, they may be individually withdrawn from the wall after the concrete poured therebetween has hardened. Consequently, these partition forming members 40 and their supporting rods 39 may be used over and over as the concrete column thus formed increased in height and/or in connection with additional similar columns at other points in the Wall construction.

While I have, for the sake of clearness and in order to disclose the invention so that the same can be readily understood, described and illustrated specific devices and arrangements, I desire to have it understood that this invention is not limited to the specific means disclosed, but may be embodied in other ways that will suggest themselves to persons skilled in the art. It is believed that this invention is new and it is desired to claim it so that all such changes as come within the scope of the appended claims are to be considered as part of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a wall construction, the combination of two surface forming walls disposed in spaced relation and composed of blocks laid in corresponding courses and having cooperating tongue and groove surfaces along their top and bottom edges,

transversely extending tie forming means cooperating with the tongue and groove of said blocks for retaining said blocks in spaced relation, and diagonally extending truss forming means between said walls interlocking with said tie forming means, and a reinforcing means disposed in spaced relation with each course of blocks and extending throughout the height of the walls and interlocking with the ends of said transversely extending tie forming means for reinforcing said walls in their vertical plane.

2. In a wall construction, the combination of two surface forming walls disposed in spaced relation and composed of blocks laid in corresponding courses and having cooperating tongue and groove surfaces along their top and bottom edges, transversely extending tie forming members for each course of blocks cooperating with the tongue and groove of said blocks and disposed in a vertical line between said walls for retaining said blocks in spaced relation, vertically extending truss forming means between said walls interlocking with said tie forming members for reinforcing said walls in their vertical plane, and means at each side of the vertical line of tie forming members forming retaining partitions transverse to the plane of the walls between which concrete may be poured about said tie forming members and said vertically extending truss forming means to complete the wall construction.

3. In a wall construction, the combination of two parallel surface forming walls composed of blocks laid in corresponding courses with the vertical joints of one course disposed at an intermediate point with respect to the vertical joints of the corresponding course in the other wall, a plurality of reinforcing tie forming members extending between said walls and interlocking with the joints between each course of blocks, said tie forming members being arranged in a vertical line one above the other between the walls, curtain supporting rods extending between said walls supported at the upper edge of each course of blocks and disposed one at each side of said reinforcing tie forming members, and a series of curtains hung in overlapping relation between the curtain rods of each course of blocks forming a cavity into which concrete may be poured to surround said tie forming members as the courses of blocks are assembled.

4. In a wall construction, the combination of two parallel surface forming walls composed of blocks laid in corresponding courses with the vertical joints of one course disposed at an intermediate point with respect to the vertical joints of the corresponding course in the other wall, reinforcing tie forming members extending between said walls and interlocking with the joints betwen each horizontal course of blocks, said tie forming members being arranged at spaced points along the wall in vertical relation one above the other, supporting rods extending between the upper edges of each course of blocks at each side of said reinforcing tie forming members, and a series of metal plates suspended vertically in overlapping relation between said supporting rods and at each side of the tie forming members between which concrete may be poured to encase said reinforcing tie forming members as the courses of blocks are assembled.

5. In a wall construction, the combination of two surface forming walls disposed in parallel relation and composed of blocks laid in corresponding courses with the vertical joints of one course disposed at an intermediate point with respect to the vertical joints of the corresponding course in the other wall, said blocks having cooperating tongue and groove forming surfaces along their top and bottom edges, a plurality of tie forming members arranged in a vertical line and engaging said tongue and groove surfaces at its ends for holding each course of blocks in spaced relation, vertically extending reinforcing means connected between said tie forming means, said blocks each having notches along their inside top edges for the reception of a transversely disposed supporting rod, supporting rods engaging opposite notches at each side of said tie forming means and said vertically extending reinforcing means, and a transverse partition forming member suspended from each of said supporting rods and disposed inside of the next lower supporting rod with respect to said tie forming members forming a retaining means for wet concrete when poured around said tie forming members and reinforcing means.

6. In a wall construction, the combination of two surface forming walls disposed in parallel relation and composed of blocks laid in corresponding courses with the vertical joints of one course disposed at an intermediate point with respect to the vertical joints of the corresponding course in the other wall, said blocks having cooperating surfaces along their top and bottom edges, a plurality of tie forming members arranged in a vertical line and secured between said surfaces at its ends for holding said walls in spaced relation to each other, means forming a vertically extending reinforcing connection between said tie forming means, said blocks each having notches along their inside upper edges for the reception of a transversely disposed rod, a rod extending between each course of blocks engaging opposite notches at each side of said tie forming means and said vertically extending reinforcing connection, and a partition forming member suspended from each of said rods and hanging inside of the next lower rod. with respect to said tie forming members forming a transverse retaining partition at each side of said tie forming means between which wet concrete may be poured to encase said tie forming members and reinforcing means.

7. A reinforcing and tie forming means for walls of the type having spaced and preformed blocks built up in spaced parallel courses, comprising a tie forming member having block engaging ends adapted to extend horizontally between the parallel courses of blocks, a diagonally extending strut portion connected to a second similar tie forming member arranged vertically in alignment therewith, and a vertically extending tie bar disposed in spaced relation with each course of blocks and interlocking with said tie forming members adjacent their ends.

8. A reinforcing and tie forming means for walls of the type having spaced and preformed blocks built up in spaced parallel courses, comprising a tie forming member having a block engaging end adapted to extend into the space between the parallel courses of blocks, a second tie forming member having a block engaging end adapted to extend into cooperating relation with said first tie forming member and diagonally to a second similar tie forming member, and a vertically disposed continuous rod adapted to interlock a plurality of said tie forming members in spacing and truss. forming relation between the parallel courses of the wall forming blocks.

9. In a reinforcing tie bar for spacing and reinforcing walls constructed of spaced courses of preformed blocks, comprising a flat strip of metal having L-shaped slots cut into one edge thereof into which a vertically disposed tie rod may be inserted by deforming the portion of said tie bar included in the L configuration of said slot, whereby the vertically disposed tie bar may be inserted sidewise into said slot and retained therein by reforming the portion of said tie bar included in the L configuration of said slot to its original position.

10. In a wall construction of the character described having two parallel surface forming walls of preformed blocks laid in corresponding courses with the vertical joints of one course disposed at an intermediate point with respect to the vertical joints of the corresponding course in the other wall, the combination of reinforcing metallic tie members extending between each course of blocks and arranged in vertical relation to each other, a rod at each side of said reinforcing means supported at the top of each course of blocks and two parallel surface forming walls of preformed blocks laid in corresponding courses with the vertical joints of one course disposed at an intermediate point with respect to the vertical joints of the corresponding course in the other wall, reinforcing metallic tie members extending between said walls and arranged in vertically spaced relation, and a removable metal plate suspended 5' from the top of each course of blocks at each side of said reinforcing tie members and extending downwardly inside of a similarly suspended metal plate, said metal plates forming transversely extending partitions between which concrete is 'a poured to encase said reinforcing means.

JOHN J. OLSEN. 

